Microsoft reportedly opening first ever New York City retail store on Fifth Ave

A Microsoft Store offers an assortment of products and services, including Windows 8.1 devices, Windows Phone smartphones, Xbox One consoles, Office 365, and much more. Customers can also receive support and services from staff members who can make recommendations and more. A kiosk-style specialty store is a smaller store that features the best of what Microsoft has to offer in a smaller space.

Microsoft is rumored to open its first ever New York City retail store on Fifth Ave, going head to head against Apple’s glass cube store, which just so happens to be nearby. “For Microsoft to land on Fifth Avenue just a few blocks from Apple would certainly be interesting,” said Faith Hope Consolo, a top retail broker with Douglas Elliman, who was not involved in the deal. “It would be very dramatic.”

The 8,700-square-foot, two-story space that Microsoft is looking to snag is located at 677 Fifth Avenue near 53rd Street. Not only is this a prime location, but prices to rent ground floor stores are nearing $3,500 per square foot. It will be interesting to see how flashy Microsoft plans to make this particular store, if negotiations go through as expected. Apple’s huge 32-foot glass panels make up the entrance to the company’s flagship store.

We’ve reached out to Microsoft for comment and a company spokesperson told us what we had already figured. “We are always working to identify the best possible locations for our Microsoft retail stores to deliver the choice value and service our customers are looking for, but do not have any additional information to share at this time.”